Packers: NFL Mocks predicts Green Bay will win NFC North

Will the Green Bay Packers win the NFC North in 2018?

According to a recent NFL Mocks article, the answer to that question is yes.

While the Minnesota Vikings have an excellent roster, one good enough to win a Super Bowl, the Packers have the best quarterback in football returning from injury.

Will Rodgers’ return, along with better play on defense, help the Packers win back the NFC North crown?

Erik Lambert of NFL Mocks thinks so. Earlier this week, he predicted the winners of each division this season. And Lambert believes the NFC North will be green and gold once again:

"“One would think the Minnesota Vikings are the favorites, especially after adding Kirk Cousins to the mix at quarterback. Their defense is strong and they should get Dalvin Cook back too. The problem is Aaron Rodgers can so often be the great equalizer. Green Bay did a fine job deepening his array of weapons this offseason, headlined by tight end Jimmy Graham.”"

Rodgers is the difference maker here. He’s the No. 1 reason why this team made the playoffs eight years in a row. And it’s also no coincidence that in a season he misses nine games, that incredible postseason streak comes to an end.

Now, Rodgers doesn’t guarantee a division title. Of course. The Vikings proved that in 2015, when they won the NFC North title at Lambeau Field in the season finale.

But there’s no denying the dominance the team has had in this division with Rodgers as the starter. Excluding the 2017 season, as he didn’t play for over half of it, the Packers have won the NFC North five times in nine seasons with Rodgers as the starting quarterback.

The four times they didn’t win the division, they only failed to make the playoffs via a wild-card berth once. One of those years, 2010, they went all the way to win the Super Bowl despite not finishing first in the division.

For that reason, it’s hard to disagree with Lambert’s prediction.

There’s also a good chance Green Bay’s defense will be better. It won’t be great. It might only be “good”. But that’s all it needs to be.

With the addition of Mike Pettine as defensive coordinator, rookie cornerbacks Jaire Alexander and Josh Jackson, and free agent signings Muhammad Wilkerson and Tramon Williams, this defense should improve.

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If it does, the Packers won’t just be the favorites to regain the NFC North title, but also in a strong position to finally return to the Super Bowl.